Outsmarted By My Cat

So 1 of our cats is definitely not a lap cat, the only time he likes to sit on my lap is when I using my laptop. Somehow he has managed to remap some of my keys so that the up/down arrows, Home, PgUp & PgDn keys don't work as intended on my Z61t. I'd really like to get them back to the default settings but haven't been able to, also it would be nice to be able to lock out the keyboard w/out having to lock the computer. I haven't found a way to do that although I did find a program, PawSense, but at $20 I think I'll stick to chasing him off the keyboard or locking the computer.

TIA & Happy Holidays!!!!

 

Is the Fn key stuck?

 

No. Perhaps I should detail the exact nature of the problems as it isn't that all the mentioned keys don't work some do some don't but the ones that work don't work the same way they have for 2 yrs.

 

Cats use it as a heater. Lay flat on stomach on your keyboard.

 

i question the general assumption that felines know about function keys. maybe your cat took "thinkvantage" too lit(t)erally.

 

So they aren't recognizing key presses, or they're registering as a different key?

 

I can relate. I got a kitten around the same time as my X200s and he seems to be a bit jealous.

You should describe what the keys do differently than they did before if you want help to fix it..

 

numlock or "NmLk"
check numlock, is there a light lit up?

 

damn that numlock! (and that scroll lock in excel...)

 

Okay, the Home & End keys do nothing at all, the PgUp/PgDn keys seem to be working well after I went into Internet Options and rechecked smooth scrolling. The Up/Down arrows work fine in programs but on internet pages they don't move the page until I press the key several times during which I can see the line that might indicate where you are when typing moves up the page, or down when pressing the down arrow, sometimes 1 row at a time and sometimes several lines. Once the line gets to the top of the page w/ up arrow or bottom w/ the down arrow. Previously the Up/Down arrows worked immediately.

Well the above is not representative of all web pages as I was just on a web page and the Up/Doen arrows didn't work at all, the PgUp & PgDn were not working correctly either.

 

Those are all keys that have an Fn alternative... are you sure Fn isn't stuck or partially stuck?

 

Fn lock must be somehow activated in the bios menu.

 

It actually makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one around here who has occasional (okay, constant) feline-laptop interaction issues!

I'm a former (and future) ThinkPad owner, but I actually bought a Dell Latitude E6400 this time around. The WXGA+ LED option on the T400 disappeared right at the time I needed a new laptop, so I snagged the E6400 (with WXGA+ LED) for dirt cheap from Dell Outlet. Then again, the deals Lenovo has on new T400/T500's are even better...but I digress....

Anyway, the only beef I have with the E6400 is the location of the exhaust fan vent- smack in the middle of the left-hand side of the system!? It's annoying enough when I get a blast of hot air on my left hand if I have a temporary lapse in memory, but guess who is ALWAYS trying to lay up against the vent??? Four paws, black/white fur, angel/demon personality disorder (more demon these days)! If I leave my machine on and leave the room for 10 minutes, when I come back she is blocking the exhaust 100% and I have a toasty laptop on the verge of overheating!?!?

Not to mention cleaning fur out of the keyboard on a daily basis...

 

If the Fn key was locked or set to on in the BIOS wouldn't all Fn functions work w/ out having to hold the Fn key?

 

Press the Fn key twice, to enable the Fn auto-functionality. Like LCD light To disable Fn auto-functionality, Press Fn once. Or holed down Fn + PgUp key for the light.

I hope this helps you

 

Thanks for all the help but still no joy. The Home & End keys don't work on web pages at all while the Arrow Up/Dn keys work but as described earlier, which isn't the way it used to. These keys work fine on PDF's and other documents.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!

 

Which browser are you using?

 

Firefox 3.5.6.